How it works

For your protection and mine, I use a short-term rental agreement that we both sign. The rental agreement will contain your arrival date and time, your departure date and departure time, the exact amount you will pay and when payment is due. The rental agreement also covers what happens in the event of damage to the home.  In a nutshell, the process works like this:

1. Via either email or telephone you provide me with your name, home mailing address, home telephone number, cell phone number, number of adults, number of children, your arrival date and your departure date.  At this time you can also let me know if you would like to include pool heat or would like a few groceries available when you arrive. 
   
2. I will use this information to generate a rental agreement that I will electronically sign and email to you.  You should print two copies of the rental agreement, one to keep for your records and the other to sign and snail-mail back to me.  All adults in your party outside your immediate family must sign the rental agreement. 
   
3. Once you have carefully read the rental agreement, agree that everything is how you expect it to be and are ready to drop it in the mail, you can pay the damage deposit in one of two ways.  You may include a personal check for $250.00 and send it with the rental agreement.  Or, you can make your payment with a credit card by following the "Payment options" menu.
4. On receipt of your damage deposit and rental agreement, your reservation is guaranteed. 
   
5. 30 days prior to your arrival final payment in full is due.  As with the damage deposit, your final payment can either be a personal check or you can pay with a credit card.
6. When I receive your final payment, I will email to you a very detailed welcome letter that will contain everything you need.  The welcome letter will contain the address of the home, driving directions, and many details that will be very helpful for when you arrive.  The welcome letter will also contain the key code combination to enter the home, and local phone numbers you can call in the unlikely event that something is wrong with the home.  A professional local property manager cares for the home and will be happy to attend to any needs or problems you might have.  Naturally, you should print a copy of the welcome letter and bring it with you. 
   
7. After you leave, the property manager will send a cleaning crew to clean the home.   The welcome letter will contain a few things we ask you to do before you leave like putting out the trash, running the dishwasher, and starting a load of laundery.  As part of the cleaning process the home will be inspected for damage.  Please treat this home like you treat your own home and everything will be fine.  I want to return your damage deposit and want you to come again or to recommend our home to your family or friends.  A check and thank-you letter will be sent to you to return your damage deposit.  The check will be sent within 10 business days of your departure.  Please allow extra time during times of peak snail-mail.
8. Examples of reasons why the damage deposit would not be returned, or when you might be liable for additional repairs include the following:

• Smoking in the home.  You will be charged for a carpet clean.
• Excessive garbage left on departure.  Your garbage must fit into two large garbage cans.
• Pool controls, heater, timer being tampered with.
• Broken/bent pool cues.
• Late or unauthorized check in or check out.
• Broken or missing items.
• Extra occupancy above what was stated in the rental agreement.
• Non-removable stains on carpet, towels or linens.
• Screen panels ripped.
• Excessively dirty stove or BBQ grill uncleaned.
• Damage to the pool table.